Telephone lock



March 26, 1940. ENGELs QN 2,194,521

TELEPHONE LOCK Filed Sept. 17, 1938 INVENTOR 8C1; W

ATTORNEY Patented Mar. 26, 1940 PATENT, OFFICE TELEPHONE LOCK DavidEngelson, New York, N. Y.; Isaac Davidson executor of David Engelson,deceased Application September 17, 1938, Serial No. 230,376

3 Claims.

The present invention'is directed to locking devices for rotary dialsassociated with the base of. a telephone instrument and is especiallyconcerned with looking and closure means to preclude unauthorized use ofthe telephone for outgoing calls without however interfering with normaloperation of the telephone for reception of incoming calls. Theinvention has as one object the provisionpf a split closure comprisingpivotally connected and-overlapping sections for covering the dial ofthe'telephone and including means cooperating with-the fixed finger stopassociated with the rotary dial to prevent rotation of the closure. Theinvention has as a further acter referred to wherein the complementarysections each include a curved lip cooperating to interlock the rim ofthe rotary dial to preclude removal of the closure while in its closedposition on the dial. The invention has a further object to provide arelatively lightweight but durable and improved closure having pivotallyconnected sections or components to permit lateral separation thereof inrespect to the dial and to allow 5 convenient closing of the sectionsover the dial and including means adapted to register in the closedrelation of the sections to receive detachable locking means to preventpivotal separation of the sections. Other objects, advantages, andfeatures of the invention will be more apparent from a consideration ofthe following detailed description'considered in connection with theaccompanying drawing in which:

Fig. l is a perspective View of my closure lock- 35 ing device shownpartly broken away.

Fig. 2 is aplan view of Fig. 1. Fig; 3 is a sectional view taken alongthe line 3-3 of Fig; 2. i

Fig. 4 is a sectional View on the line 4-4 of 40 i Fig. 5 is afragmentary elevational view of the lower section looking in thedirection of the arrows on the line 5-5 of Fig. 1.v

Fig. 6 is 'a bottom view of Fig. 5 and showing'a portion of thefixedfinger piece locked in a recess of the lower closure section.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary view of the split closure, particularlyillustrating the stop means to permit the front eyes of thecomplementary sections of the closure to automatically register.

According to the invention a locking closure generally denoted I ispositioned over a rotary dial ll of a telephone instrument l2. Thisclosure comprises substantially semi-circular upper and lower componentsor sections I3 and I4 havobject the provision of a split closure of thechar- The upper and lower sections each include at its rear portion aneye I! through which a fulcrum pin l8 passes. By this arrangement theupper and lower sections are hingedly associated and it follows thecomplementary closure sections I 3 and 4 can be readily spread apart asindicated by the dash and dot lines in Fig. 2 and if spread apart theymay be readily brought towards one another to assume their closedpositions as 11- lustrated by the full lines in Fig. 2. v

Each of the closure sections it and M is provided with acircumferentially arranged depending curved lip 49 defining a groove forreceiving the rotary rim of the finger actuated dial ii. If thereforethe'complementary sections are over the dial and closed, the dependinglips l9 embrace the rim of thedial and lock the closure [0 againstupward displacement. I

The upper and lower sections 13 and i 4 are provided with a central boss20 and 2! respectively andthese in part embody the adjacent overlappedportions or inner margins i and I6 of the sections l3 and M. The bossesand 2| in the closed position of the sections in fact constitute acentral raised hollow housing for receiving and enclosing theconventional indicia carrying member 22 secured to the rotary dial.Extending outwardly from boss 2| of the lower section I4 but struck outfrom the latter is the arcuate boss 23 constituting a socket for closelybut disengageably housing the arcuate and fixed finger piece stop '24mounted on the base of the telephone. Arcuate boss 23 has its sides'25closely but removably straddling sides 26 of the fixed stop 24 toprevent rotation of the closure relative to the dial and to supplementsuch action, vertical end portion 21 of the fixed stop 24 fits closelybut removably into locking recess 28 of the channel or socket 28 formedin part in the arcuate lip IQ of the lower pivoted cover section l4.

With the closure mounted on the dial and closed as shown in Fig. 2 or 3,the front perforated ears 29 of the cover sections I3 and M are disposedin registration, that is to say, if these complementary cover sectionsare fully closed the perforations of ears 29 automatically line up. Thisis accomplished when the lower car 29 of the lower section It strikesbiased terminal 30 of the depending curved lip l9 of the upper coversection l3. Thereafter the hasp 3| of a key controlled padlock 32 isinserted through the hasp sustaining ears 29 and looked as is Wellunderstood. It follows that the complementary cover sections are lockedagainst pivotal separation and against removal from the dial. In suchrelation the closure i0 is also prevented from rotation relative to therotary dial. Thus incoming telephone calls may be received although thedial cannot be manipulated for unauthorized outgoing calls.

To detach the closure from the dial, padlock 32 is first unlocked, haspSi is removed from the perforations of the superimposed ears 29, theupper section is swung or hinged laterally relative to the dial, and thelower section is lifted from the dial. access can now be had to the dialto permit an thorized use thereof for outgoing calls.

In the broader aspects of the invention, I do not desire to beunderstood as limiting the embodiment thereof to details herein shownillustratively as a Wide variety of modifications may be made within thescope of the invention.

I claim:

1. In a locking device for a rotary telephone dial associated with afixed stop and having a raised indicia carrying member, the combinationof, a closure for the upper surface of said dial comprisingcomplementary cover sections having centrally arranged raised andoverlapping portions for closing said member and each having a dependingcurved lip for removably interlocking with the rim of said dial, one ofsaid sections having means cooperating with said stop to preventrotation of said closure relative to said stop,

Thus the closure is removed and dial associated with a fixed stop andhaving an indicia carrying member, the combination of, a closure for theupper surface of said dial comprising complementary cover sectionshaving centrally arranged and overlapping and substantiallydiametrically disposed inner portions for encompassing said member andeach having a dependi ing curved lip for removably interlocking with therim of said dial, one of said sections having a hollow boss includingsides straddlingsaid stop to prevent rotation of said closure relativeto said stop, means hingedly connecting corresponding portions of saidsections to permit pivotal separation or closingof said sections, locksustaining means carried by said sections, and. disconnect able lockingmeans removably associated with sections to prevent pivotal separationthereof.

3. In a locking device for a rotary telephone dial associated with afixed stop and including a central raised part, the combination of, asubstansaid sustaining means and cooperating with said tially discshaped closure 'for the upper surface of said dial comprisingcomplementary substantially semi-circular, sections each having adepending circular lip for interlocking with. the

rim of said dial and including centrallyarranged of said sections havinga hollow struck out housing for receiving said stop, one of saidlipshaving a recess including Walls forming a part of said housing andclosely straddling the lower part of the sides of said step, saidsections having eyes, means to automatically aline said eyes uponpivotal closing of said cover sections, and disconnectable locking meanssustained by saideyes to prevent pivotal separation of said sections. wv

, DAVID, ENGELSON.

